NBA, Video / Sep 5, 2008 / 11:30 am

Who was the better dunker: Shawn Kemp or Dominique Wilkins?

By Austin Burton

People’s Exhibit A: The Reign Man

Exhibit B: The Human Highlight Film

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64 Responses to “Who was the better dunker: Shawn Kemp or Dominique Wilkins?”

  1. September 5th, 2008 at 11:34 am

    shake&bake says:

    Nique: He had power and more style.
    They are my 2 favorite dunkers of all time. Great question Dime.

  2. September 5th, 2008 at 11:40 am

    T Dubbs says:

    Man, it’s hard to say… they both attack with wreckless tendencies. I’m torn…

  3. September 5th, 2008 at 11:41 am

    justice says:

    nique had slightly better dunks imo..but kemp had better after dunk antics(classic), so id rather watch kemp

  4. September 5th, 2008 at 11:42 am

    that's whats up says:

    this is probably the toughest call of them all.

    Kemp had that extra flash and nastiness, but ‘Nique was a gravity-defying freak of nature. I have to say I’m not choosing a side - they both were bad.

    …and ‘Nique sure did love to dunk on the Celtics. I mean, did Larry Bird really think he was going to block that shit?

  5. September 5th, 2008 at 11:48 am

    ERIC says:

    great debate PC.

    I gotta go with the Reign Man who revolutionized the style and flair to BIG MAN dunking.

    Nique was amazing, gravity-defying with power and would do a windmill or reverse when no one else was trying that ish. But there were 3-men before him (Dr. J, Elgin Baylor) who were high-flyers in their own right.

    Kemp made the high-flying, acrobatic act for the 4-man cool and ferocious. Not to mention the sick oops from GP when Seattle had a basketball team.

  6. September 5th, 2008 at 11:50 am

    David Brandon says:

    i like nique’s smoothness, but damn!, shawn would BANG on you. and then give you love… lol!

  7. September 5th, 2008 at 11:54 am

    isotope says:

    depends on what your criteria is. Dominique was creative and athletic while Kemp was just dominating. It didnt matter where Kemp got the ball it seemed like he was always going for the dunk.

    If I got dunked on by ‘Nique I would be in awe and probably be clapping. If i got dunked on by Kemp I’ll immediately leave the court and go stand in the unemployment line to pick up my check and pay for a shrink.

  8. September 5th, 2008 at 11:57 am

    RENO says:

    Hell of a question DIME. Can’t go wrong either way. Nique was raw power at it’s finest… (how many players can do a windmill 5 times in a row and get the same reaction as the first?)… I gotta personally go with Kemp though. He was a freak of nature with his athleticism, length and power. Not to mention his post dunk swag got everybody around him hype like they did the dunk.

  9. September 5th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    goonther says:

    obv. nique wins the contest - you cant get the name the human highlight reel and not be a better dunker than kemp

  10. September 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    goonther says:

    MAN - he CROWNED parish on that one dunk too … ha

  11. September 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    Detroit Dave says:

    Kemp because he could give u dunks off of 1 or 2 feet and 1 or 2 hands. Nique was nasty but most of his were off of 2 feet.

  12. September 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

    weezy f says:

    it seemed like every dunk kemp had the crowd would just go insane

  13. September 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm

    fallinup says:

    What a tough question to be asked if someone was holding you at gunpoint. How do you critique two of the best dunkers ever? If I have to choose, I’d choose Kemp…just in the “OH!” factor. You know, when Kemp dunks on someone’s face something fierce…I find myself saying. “OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!” more with Kemp than I do with Nique. Don’t get me wrong, the “OH!” factor is very very high with the Human Highlight Reel…but damn, there’s something about Kemp crowning someone that just makes me go, “OOOOOHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!” more often.

  14. September 5th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Jeffrey says:

    Wilkins had finesse
    Kemp Had Power!!!

  15. September 5th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    that's whats up says:

    …yeah, and if Kemp did any of those after-dunk antics in today’s NBA the refs would tee him up quick and kill the hyped-up crowd. NBA…..it’s Faaaaantastic!

  16. September 5th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

    bsteezy3 says:

    I’m gonna go with ‘Nique. That guy routinely did Dunk Contest dunks IN THE GAME!!

  17. September 5th, 2008 at 12:19 pm

    Jim says:

    I’m going with Kemp just because those are the dunks I remember from my formative years. When I thought of a crazy dunk when I was 12 it’s that #3, the reverse pump through the lane. Insane.

    I was little when Nique was doing his…though when Nique was in his late 30s he would still bring crazy dunks…probably not true for Kemp.

  18. September 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    the haters POV says:

    i gotta go with Kemp man. he finished his dunks with a little ummmpf, if that’s a word. i luv his after dunk antics, the pointing and shimmying. man i almost forgot how good he was. great post Austin.

  19. September 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    K-Dot says:

    Kemp’s #1 dunk would’ve got him tossed from the game and suspended for the next 2 in today’s league. lol.

    Kemp was an incredible finisher…I’m a Lebron fan but let’s be real he is nothing but a 2008 and beyond Shawn Kemp.

    Hands down Wilkins is better. He is after all right behind Jordan as the all-time greatest dunker.

  20. September 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    kermit the washington says:

    I gotta go with Kemp. ‘Nique in my opinion was a NASTY dunker, but for the most part just did windmill after windmill after windmill…and would win dunk contests off that ish.

    Kemp was just REDICULOUS. Should’ve won at least ONE of those dunk contests, he got robbed a couple times, but he was nasty in both contest dunks AND game dunks.

  21. September 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    chekmate says:

    i vote isotope for reader comment of the day. lol

  22. September 5th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    sweetv0mit says:

    after top reign man dunk number 5…

    reign man: you’ve just been part of my poster
    c gatling: (shakes reign mans hand) oh thanks bro. make sure u get me a copy coz i gotta put it in my “i’ve been dunked on a lot” wall at home.
    reign man: as long as u get me a double cheeseburger from mcdonalds
    c gatling: i’ll share one with u
    reign man: deal!

  23. September 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pm

    fiyaman says:

    i didnt think there was even a question that nique was better but from reading the responses i guess there is.. but i pick nique

  24. September 5th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    me says:

    NO contest. Nique by a mile at least.

    (I should say that nique is my all time fave player.)

  25. September 5th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    D.H. says:

    I gotta go with Kemp, only because of the intensity of the dunks. But its a great questions for sure, very close call.

  26. September 5th, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    YOUNGFED says:

    Ummmmm….Who was the best dunker, let me see….? I’d say Kemp before the crack and Nique before the S-Curl. Wait was there ever a Nique before the S-Curl. LMAO(x)2

    Naw Seriously I’ma go wit the S-Curl. “Just Let Yo Soul Glo..!!!’

  27. September 5th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    itsakademiks says:

    man kemp was just nasty nique and him are neck and neck but like others said i give it to kemp just for the sheer power and theatrics of his dunks.

  28. September 5th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    mike says:

    Kemp travels a lot jesus

  29. September 5th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    mike says:

    Nique #6…he jumped so high and so far after a long hop step…unreal

  30. September 5th, 2008 at 12:57 pm

    marcus the great says:

    kemp all day, i watch him on youtube

    and oh yea, isotope for comment of the day, i busted out laughin

  31. September 5th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    marcus the great says:

    and the oops from GP jus takes it to another level!

  32. September 5th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    loganlight says:

    The Reign Man!

    I’ve never seen anyone get so much joy out of dunking on people. Kemp was relentless and his dunks were HARD - btw I love when guys dunk and hang on the rim/throw it down with force… the Melo “drop it in” dunk makes me mad…

    No doubt ‘Nique was SICK. But Kemp dunked on entire defenses. He was a power forward who had flash and power when attacking the rim.

    2 things of interest: “Kemp was all over that rebound like a bad suit” - hilarious

    AND did you see Larry Bird get CROWNED on play 4? What was he thinking?

    LL

  33. September 5th, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    marcus the great says:

    meant to say i watch Kemp on youtube like every week

  34. September 5th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    A-Slam says:

    i think ‘nique’s slam over larry bird is the best posterization ever

  35. September 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    nick says:

    its a toss up can’t go wrong with either. but i am going with nique.

  36. September 5th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    dat dood says:

    i always thought kemp was a beast. too funny that after serving up gatling they just shake hands.

    look at larry birds reaction after he gets crowned…

  37. September 5th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    bsteezy3 says:

    Dominique has a series of two-handed jams, whether they are windmills or double pump jams, they are truly sick…if only guys were throwing more lobs in his day…

  38. September 5th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    Austin Burton says:

    KEMP
    * Cliff Robinson got a faceful of ass on #10
    * Check out Nick Van Exel’s defense on #7
    * Was that Bill Laimbeer getting the Lipton on #4?
    * If I recall correctly, #2 was from Kemp’s rookie year when he was still 19. In the “Shawn Kemp: The Reign Man” video, I think it was Michael Cage or X-Man who said that was the play when they were all like, “This kid’s gonna be a player.”

    DOMINIQUE
    * He sends people crashing to the floor on #10 and #4.
    * The announcer on #9 after Trent Tucker got dunked on: “How did that feel, Trent?”
    * #5 on Eaton might be #1 for me.
    * How about the Bucks’ uniforms in #1?

  39. September 5th, 2008 at 2:22 pm

    JA says:

    Reign Man. ‘Nique was exciting, but Kemp was scary.

  40. September 5th, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    loganlight says:

    AB - Those Bucks unis are GREAT! Notice how they kind of went back to that last year…

    Oh and “Cliff Robinson got a faceful of ass on #10″ had me laughing out loud… so much so that I had to explain the context to a co-worker… and then show him the videos… and THEN debate that Kemp was better. So, thanks for that.

    LL

  41. September 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    DO says:

    close, but i’ll go with kemp.
    nique was nice but kemp was nasty.

  42. September 5th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Magnifico says:

    good debate dime, right on the money.

    i’d go with kemp simply because he literally rubs it in your face (his antics now would merit a tech) and gets away with it.

  43. September 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    thomasmmm says:

    @justice: true that - ‘kemp had better after dunk antics’ he may have devoted an hour per practice day to perfect those skillz. although, kemp did not win a february dunk contest. and he’s 4″ taller than wilkins.

    is Nique a better dunker than VC?

    what happened to kris bruton? james white and his free-throw between the legs dunk?

  44. September 5th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    K Dizzle says:

    This might be the best question to date, Dime.
    I ain’t got time to watch the vids yet, but they both right there. Kemp’s rookie year reverse on the Knicks, the Lister Blister, the Rattlin Gatlin and Nique with the dunk contest insanity, the nicknname and doin dunk contest crams in the 4th quarter of close games….Damn, it’s too close to call

  45. September 5th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Sith Lord 24 says:

    tough one ill say Nique. but Kemp in his heyday was a straight MONSTER. kemp gets props for his after dunk celebrations. but Nique’s dunks were better

    and FYI Nique got robbed in the famous dunk contest with Jordan in CHICAGO. jordan did the same dunk twice and got a 50 both times!!!! and Nique did a sick 2 handed windmill and they gave him like a 43 or 44

    HOME COURT ADVANTAGE!!!

  46. September 5th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    brickhouse says:

    Nique because he is more awe inspiring. that jump-stop hop dunk was bonkers and he damn near caved in Parish’s skull on the next one

    I don’t know if it’s just these highlights because I don’t remember it being like this when I watched him play, but Kemp looks like he has some nice handles for a 4 in a few of these clips

  47. September 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    P_Dizzle says:

    Since I am a Reign Man fan I have to go with Kemp. I remember going to a Utah Jazz- Seattle Sonics game when I was young. Kemp must have been a rookie that year or a 2nd year pro. I just remember him almost tearing the rim off and that thing shaking forever. I remember thinkin, “Whoa!”. Ever since that moment I began following him. He was a beast!

    ‘Nique was nasty. This is an escellent question, but I gots to go with the fat-ass, father of a kid in every NBA city, cocaine snorting, and all-boozed up Reign Man.

  48. September 5th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    GEE... "Smokey, you been eating corn?" says:

    In-game dunkers don’t come any nastier than Kemp. So hands down In-game goes to Kemp. You felt his dunks in yo soul.

    Dunk Contest wise goes to Nique, cause Kemp wasn’t bringin it like Nique in any dunk contest. Many debate Nique got robbed and should have beat money in 1 dunk contest in particular.

    Overall give me The Reign Man, cause Nique’s dunk contest stuff has been duplicated and even passed in many degrees. No one yet, in my opinion, has gotten ill as consistently as Kemp did for in-game dunks.

  49. September 5th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Al says:

    Dominique Wilkins all the way , that dunk on Larry Bird was crazy

  50. September 5th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    lee says:

    Yeah, the facial on bird might hve been the best ever !!! It looks like nique hit him with a 50 mph fastball on that one !!!

  51. September 5th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    1982 says:

    The Reignman!

  52. September 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    gangsta of love says:

    GET OUT OF THE WAY!!! And how funny was it when Chris Gatling (who prefers coming off the bench btw) gave Kemp dap AFTER getting dunked on?

  53. September 5th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

    Sean Kemp says:

    Uncle Cliffy…….tell me how my ass tastes

  54. September 5th, 2008 at 5:41 pm

    Sushi says:

    I’m a Seattle guy, so as much as I love seeing ‘Nique fly as if gravity doesn’t apply, I love seeing Shawn crown a guy, land, point at him, and laugh more.

  55. September 5th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

    Jah says:

    Here’s the thing:

    Dominique Wilkins is a basketball legend and it’s hard to NOT automatically say “he’s the man on the dunks when compared to anyone else not named Michael Jordan.”

    That said, anyone who saw those clips knows that Shawn Kemp redefined dunking for the big man.

    I respect the “Human Highlight Film” because I’m a good boy, but when it comes to dunking:

    SHAWN KEMP = THE BEST THERE EVER WAS

  56. September 5th, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    James says:

    Shawn Kemp- did it with such power

  57. September 5th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    josh tha roc says:

    i thought kemp, but after the clips i’ll go with Nique’…..AB van exel defence was hilarious…i’ll just jump up in the air and pretend i was doin something. hahaha

  58. September 5th, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Tangman says:

    yo dime do yall have any of the training articles that you put in some of the issues. Like the core workout, basketball strength, etc?

  59. September 5th, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    ottereater says:

    Nique’s dunks are far more elegant. I like them more, myself. The way that Nique moves and glides is mesmerizing.

    Kemp was amazing. Like Amare without the knee surgery.

  60. September 6th, 2008 at 12:02 am

    s says:

    The Nique finish on Robert Parish was just so vicious. I love em both, but I’ll take Nique because of the Reignmans travels.

    Also the Kemp superfacial against the Pistons (laimbeer trying to take the charge?) was actually waved off so that cant count.

    NIQUE

  61. September 6th, 2008 at 4:05 am

    solomon says:

    man, larry bird looked too jelly when nique crowned him…

    …one of the rare moment bird didn’t use that basketball IQ of his…

  62. September 6th, 2008 at 8:49 am

    Smooth says:

    Nique all day this man was NASTY

  63. September 6th, 2008 at 9:12 am

    P_Dizzle says:

    I remember Kemp calling the dunk on Gatling, “Rim-Rattling Gatling”

    He had nicknames for his dunks, not that is the decider of who’s the best but it’s pretty damn funny

  64. September 7th, 2008 at 12:14 pm

    Rod says:

    DAMN LARRY BIRD GOT SMASHED ON BY WILKINS

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